You Never Forget Your First!

It's National Sewing Machine Day everybody! Yay! So I thought I'd spare you another picture of a cowl! And tell you about the sewing machines I've used in the past!

 

I'll start with the first (See you read the blog title and thought this was gonna be rude didn't you? Saucy!) The first sewing machine I ever sewed on belonged to my Mother and I'm fairly sure this sewing machine ladies and gentlemen was/is EVIL!

 

Artwork by HarmoniousJosh 

 

Now my Mother will tell you, that it is and always was a perfectly reliable piece of sewing equipment. She's either wrong or lying because that sewing machine couldn't do three stiches without skipping another six, couldn't feed a piece of fabric through without rucking it up and couldn't run for more than two minutes before the machine belt came whirling off ready to impale someone!

God knows I despised that machine. Sadly I don't have an image of my Mums actual machine but I managed to find one pretty similar.

 

 

It's a pretty close match from what I can remember, apart from my mums was cream with brown flowers. Oh those flowers, how I hated that flowered case! If the machine was bad the case was a ruddy nightmare! My mum is still the only person I know that can get the case onto the machine base without wanting to throw the entire thing at the wall! And of course if the case isn't properly attached you can't carry it without losing a toe.

 

My next experience of a sewing machine wasn't much better to be honest (It's a wonder I kept sewing really isn't it) My next experience was at high school. Now we were very lucky to have a group of very talented textiles teachers who were wonderful at maintaining the machines and to say they were being used by an entire school they weren't doing too badly at all. The only problem with textiles class was...... Other people. This is the moment I realised I don't share well. You could guarantee that as soon as you stood up to get a pair of scissors some one had parked their backside on your machine and was using up your bobbin.

 

 

 Which is why when I wanted to get serious about sewing my mum and dad brought me my very own machine as a present.

 

 

It was a Delta and it was treated like a workhorse. This bad boy went over everything, fabric, paper, tissue, wax and many more things besides. Not only did it have to put up with my attempts at dress making it also had to contend with my artistic textiles class. It was a great first machine (of my very own) But boy was it loud! it genuinely sounded like a jackhammer when ever I sewed! However I am happy to report that after a good clean its gone to live with my big sister who I'm sure will give it an easier life than I ever did!

 

Which brings me to my last and current machine. My baby. My pride and joy. The second thing out of the house in case of fire ( Little Knitwit first, Mr.Knitwit can look after himself , and to be honest he'd probably be sobbing trying to work out which games console to save!)

My new machine was a present off my Mum and Dad (again) for my 21st birthday. They came up with some options after listening to what I wanted, a general good all rounder machine. And gave me a choice, Janome or Singer? Now to be perfectly honest my heart said Singer. But I'd never used one before so I went Janome, because that was the type machine we had at school and on the rare occasion I could have some quiet sewing time I really loved to way they worked! (Testament again to the wonderful textile teachers and sewing room support staff of Sandbach Girls School)

 

    

And this is what I got! It's so lovely it makes me want to squeal with joy and I haven't had a problem with it yet.

 

What was your first sewing machine?

 

Much Love

 

And Happy National Sewing Machine Day!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

Lord knows I'm a voodoo child baby

As the title of this post may give away, todays Pinterest fortnight projects is voodoo baby!

So its Day 5,  and todays inspiration comes from of course the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

And of course from this picture on Pinterest.

Pretty adorable for a freaky little doll hanging from a tree huh? Sadly this another one I can't find the origin for and its such a shame! Especially thinking about all the hard work the creator must have put in to him!

Now this is mine I wanted something a little more on the adorable side.

 

He's a dinky little fella, about 9 inches in height maybe a little smaller.

 

He's having a bad day, missing an eye....

 

Stitches in his arm......

Cuts all over his body

and an exposed heart!

 

 But he's still smiling! Now why am I fascinated with voodoo dolls?

1. There a bit strange, and I've always been fascinated by the stranger more mysterious elements of life?

2.Who wouldn't want to stick a pin in someone every now and again?

3. Because (especially with the cute ones) you see these little guys covered in pins, stitched up , broken and scarred but still holding things together! Obviously that's not what there actually made for the real reason is far more sinister. But in my mind, my little guy reminds me that not matter how broken, beat and scarred (<sly music reference) you are, you can always carry on with a smile on your face and your heart on your sleeve chest.

I think I might just like my reasons for making one a little bit better.

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

I Wondered Where That Went?

We've been decorating for, well, what seems like forever! We did little Knitwits room and then we did what is formally known as the man room! But as with all redecorating projects we ended up finding lots of things that we thought we had lost or misplaced! One of which was this little teddy bear I made when I found out I was pregnant!

 

 

It was the first stuffed toy I had ever knitted and I have to say I was pretty proud of it. Now I know what your thinking. Yes he does look like he's been run over and yes he is fairly flat. But that was how I wanted him! When I decided to make my little bump a stuffed toy I immediately panicked ! I wanted something safe, something he could breathe through and something I wouldn't have to worry about, so yes when I started to draft out the pattern I made him as flat as possible (yep even then I decided making my own knitting patterns was easier than trying to read the Morse code crossed with abbreviated English of commercial patterns. I have never yet gotten through a commercial knitting pattern without ringing my mum, my Nanny or popping over to my old baby sitters house Auntie Audrey! )

But in my first time mum panic I decided that this pattern needed to be as child friendly as possible I even googled how long to make his scarf so there would be no risk of strangulation, and even then I hand stitched it on just to make sure!

 

 

 

Now I thought he'd been lost and although I enjoyed making him, he was never a favourite with little Knitwit who only has eyes for his Donald duck! So when it became apparent that he was lost I wasn't particularly bothered, I took the approach of "you can't win them all" and by then my knitting had progressed! I mean I know stocking stitch as well now! I don't use it very often, but I know it! 

 

But when I found it lurking at the back of one of little Knitwits cupboards, it all came flooding back to me. The memories of being a first time mum and of making something for my baby, placing it into the boxes of things we'd gather for him and waiting for the day I could give it to him in person. Now this little guy was in danger of getting thrown away , or at the very least harvested for parts! But now he has a very special place in a box of old baby things that I just can't bear (no pun intended) to throw away! He might not have been a favourite of little Knitwit but this little flat bear will always be a favourite of mine.

 

 

Even in the picture you can tell he's not impressed!

I would also like to add that this teddy does not look that evil. So it is possible I can make stuffed toys that haven't been possessed by the devil! Unlike this and this.

 

Have you kept anything that you made for your little ones? Even if they didn't like it or use it?

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

XXX

         

Attack of the evil Bear!

I'm starting to get worried about my crafting mental well being, everything I make is turning out , well, evil!

 

I should probably explain, it all started with a picture I found on pinterest (Its origin is here by the way)

 

 

Isn't he cute! I immediately wanted one! So I searched online for a pattern, this project went from Ooooh, to pattern, to cutting, to stitching at light speed!

 

I found this pattern also on pinterest, and immediately cut my felt.

 

 

Now in the gung ho style that is most frequently associated with Mr.Knitwit I decided I didn't need instructions and sort of went for it!

 

Luckily I already had a caramel coloured felt in my stash , and I stuffed it. And this is what he ended up looking like.

 

 

Do you see the evil in him? That eye! That pointy nose!

 

 

I don't blame the pattern I used at all, in fact I'm sure its me after the bunny rabbit incident, which I've already mentioned in a previous post. I'm starting to worry that there's some sort of evil spirit demon trapped inside me, trying to get out!

 

 

This is the standard horror movie dead body shot. Complete with broken legs.

 

 

I even tried to make him look cuter by giving him a tail!

 

 

But that ended up looking like a , well we all know what it looks like so I think I'll just leave it there.

 

But I'm terrified about what going to come next .

 

 

A rag doll that looks like Chucky?

 

 

Or like the creepy doll from saw!

 

Think I might give handmade toys a break for a while, before I terrify some poor child.

or some poor adult!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Bigger is not always Better

A little while ago I went through a stuffed toy obsession, I lusted over pictures of knitted , sewn and crocheted toys (mainly the crocheted ones! one day I will grasp the idea of only holding one needle in my hand) I pinned images and read patterns till I was blue in the face. But in my own particular style I wanted something quick, easy and hassle free, which is when I came across this little beauty . I'm not sure where is from its just popped up on my pinterest feed one day and I couldn't resist giving it ago. This is my version.

 

Lil bunny (just noticed that stray piece of wool)

 

I loved him! I mean who wouldn't! he's so tiny and adorable, I used about 30 stitches, very fine wool and tiny needles. it was just my kind of project quick easy , no complications just knit sew and then make a pompom!

 

But then I had a brain wave (I should really try and tame those) what if I made it bigger? Used bigger needles and thick wool? Basically made a larger toy , suddenly the snug crafter inside me was imagining giving these as gifts at baby showers and birthdays , so I tried it.  

 

Evil Bunny! Coming to a cinema near you

 

Definitely less cute, in fact in some lights it just looked down right scary! And it was large, about the size of a small football and the pompom was huge! Maybe he was too big, maybe the wool was to stiff maybe it was the dead bunny cross eyes I decided to add but I'm inclined to believe that's it was because it was so darn big! little things are cute but this! This was definitely not cute! In fact in fairly sure he's going to be cast in a horror movie any day now! 

 

Well what can I say, sometimes ideas don't work , and I can quite safely say I wont be giving any of these to small children anytime soon . I wouldn't want to give them nightmares!

 

by for now

 

Frankie

 

xxx